Carter's catch helps Riders sink Boatmen

Carter had nine receptions for 131 yards and two touchdowns Saturday as the Riders defeated the Toronto Argonauts 38-27 before a sellout crowd of 33,350 at Mosaic Stadium.

A one-handed, 18-yard touchdown catch by Carter in the dying seconds of the first half had the fans buzzing. The catch was the athletic type of move that the Riders were looking for when they signed Carter during the off-season.

Carter has been a dynamic receiver throughout his career, but has been weighed down by some baggage.

However, he has been an exemplary teammate with the Riders since training camp and on Saturday celebrated a breakout game after what was a slow start to the CFL season. He came into Saturday’s game with 16 receptions for 156 yards and one touchdown.

“I told Duron during the pre-season that there was only one football and we had six or seven good receivers when you include our backups,’’ said Riders head coach and general manager Chris Jones. “I told him that when plays come to you, you have to make those plays. (On Saturday), that’s what he did. When the ball was thrown his way, he made those plays.’’

Carter has been waiting to make those kind of contributions to his new team after being released in October by the Montreal Alouettes. He benefited from Toronto’s defensive scheme, which left the Argonauts’ defenders in single coverage with Carter.

“It’s just a product of the offence and that’s what we’re supposed to do,’’ Carter said after the Riders improved their record to 2-3. “When I’m in single coverage, they are supposed to get the ball to my side. We were just productive and every receiver was doing their job. Bakari Grant had four catches on the last drive to seal the game. We just executed.’’

So did Carter on the touchdown catch.

“My dad (Pro Football Hall of Famer Cris Carter) always told me that I had to make a Pro Bowl first before you can catch one-handed,’’ Carter said. “I haven’t made a Pro Bowl, so I try not to catch it with one hand. Sometimes I just stick one up there.’’

Riders quarterback Kevin Glenn threw four touchdown passes and now has 11 on the season. He, too, was impressed by Carter’s one-handed grab.

“That may rank as one of the top catches that I’ve seen in 17 years,’’ Glenn said after completing 24 of 37 passes for 340 yards. “It was pretty nice catch, especially with him going up with one hand.’’

Carter also had two punt returns for 35 yards and came within a block of breaking through for a possible touchdown.

Carter wasn’t the only offensive player to contribute. Grant had five receptions for 115 yards while Naaman Roosevelt and Caleb Holley each had a touchdown reception.

Cameron Marshall added 110 yards on 18 carries and became the first Rider to rush for at least 100 yards this season.

“I can’t say that everything worked,’’ Carter said while sporting his trademark smile. “I would say 99 per cent of it worked. That last one per cent is we didn’t score 50 points. If we had scored 50 points, that would have been a 100 per cent from everybody.’’

Carter’s teammates were willing to award him perfect marks for his touchdown reception late in the first half.

“It’s something special because you can’t coach that,’’ Marshall said. “He’s able to make plays like that and bring everyone up. That’s not something you can coach. That’s something that is God-given.”

Tyler Crapigna’s convert sent the Riders into halftime tied 17-17 with the Argos. The Riders trailed 24-20 after the third quarter before outscoring the Argos 18-3.

“On paper this is a pretty good group of guys,’’ Glenn said. “We just have to continue coming out and showing it. We can’t have the type of game we had against Calgary last week. If we do, we have to bounce back.’’

The Riders’ defence bounced back by generating consistent pressure against quarterback Ricky Ray and sacking him five times. Tobi Antigha led the Riders with two sacks. A.C. Leonard, Sam Eguavoen and Willie Jefferson also sacked Ray.

The Riders are to return to action Saturday, 5 p.m., against the host B.C. Lions to kick off a home-and-home set.

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